Not just Meta, other companies are changing ahead of the Trump Administration

Meta's sudden and abrupt change ahead of the Trump administration shook many. However, Zuckerberg's has hardly been the only company to toss policies out the window lately.

The company announced it was cutting its verification program, which began after the 2016 elections, in favor of a community-based approach like X. It also scrapped DEI programs.

Still, Meta is not the only company changing DEI policies ahead of the new Trump Administration. According to the Wall Street Journal, changes are affecting all corporate America.

After President-elect Trump won the elections, McDonald's and Walmart also announced they would reduce or eliminate their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Some of these choices relate to the Supreme Court's decision to ban affirmative action in college admission programs, which could inspire similar lawsuits and liability for corporations.

Still, the WSJ said many corporate leaders are looking at President-elect Trump's victory as a sin of the times: they can quit the programs without facing public backlash.

Many companies adopted diversity programs at the height of the George Floyd or Me Too movements, as their workers pushed for stronger socially-conscious policies.

However, the WSJ said Mr. Trump's decisive electoral victory gives them an easy way out. Companies are not only scrapping DEI programs but also quitting environmental initiatives.

Many US financial companies have also announced that they are leaving the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. According to Reuters, the group is the sector's biggest climate coalition.

All the Wall Street giants, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and BlackRock, quit the alliance or similar climate groups.

According to Reuters, the move came after months of pressure from some Republicans, who claim membership in such coalitions could breach antitrust rules.

Companies find it more comfortable to give in, avoiding opposition from the new Administration. A perfect example is Disney, which recently settled a lawsuit with the President-elect.

The company, which once fought Ron DeSantis for a prolonged time over an education law in Florida, has now preferred to donate $15 million to Mr. Trump's personal library to settle an unrelated defamation lawsuit.

The WSJ said it is not uncommon for companies to change specific policies or adapt in preparation for a new administration. Still, many are looking at a second Trump term as an opportunity.

The newspaper said many CEOs felt shut down by the Biden Administration, which seemed closed off to input from corporate leaders. They see Mr. Trump as more open.

The President-elect is aware of this and has dinned with corporate leaders, from tech to pharma, in Mar-a-Lago. He posted about it in Truth Social: "EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND!!!" he said.

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